Author

Ailee Petrovic

Browsing

Three NYE Looks for Under $250

NYE

It’s hard to get your mind past Christmas when it’s only a few days away, but New Years Eve celebrations quickly follow, and it’s best to think ahead when it comes to the big outfit.

With all of the money spent on holiday gifts, the last thing I need to do is spend a fortune on a NYE outfit. I’ve put together three looks (dress, shoes, purse and jewelry) for under $250. My favorite look is first one with the neutral pinks and tans, but I love the pop of pink in the second and the sassy animal print Kate Spade dress in the third. You can hover over the items and click on the link to buy them yourself.

Week in Review

I cannot believe that next week’s ‘Week in Review’ post will be recapping Christmas [insert little kid excitement!!!]. I love this time of year so much! I am finally done with gifts, but haven’t wrapped them all yet. I am a terrible wrapper, so I tend to procrastinate with this task or revert to gift bags at the last minute.

I really enjoyed this past week, as I got to catch up with a handful of friends. However, there was a tremendously low moment of the week: Isla’s 6 month appointment, which I braved alone. Four shots almost did me and Isla both in. I hate needles, and so far, Isla does too. Ugh. So terrible! She is the 94% for height – I cannot wait to see how tall she ends up being.

Some of the big highlights from the week include:

  • Seeing sweet Simon (Mara of Hook Thread & Tinker‘s son) with his little menorah (see stolen Instagram photo below)! Happy Hanukkah!
  • Exchanging gifts with McKenzie early, as she’s heading to Illinois to spend Christmas with her boyfriend’s family (most comfy J. Crew slippers ever!!)
  • Watching Isla play with her new Xylophone (also gifted by McKenzie) – or as we call it, the Isla-Phone (lots of photos below)
  • Seeing Isla pull herself up using her crib bars – which also scares me, but thankfully we lowered the crib last week!
  • Meeting Santa Claus at Memorial City Mall (horribly unfriendly staff, but wonderful Santa!)
  • Eating lunch with one of my closest friends at Adair Kitchen (love that lady!)
  • Catching up with one of my parent’s good friends at the house – she gave Isla the cutest little tulle skirt outfit!
  • Celebrating Isla’s Godfather’s Christening on Sunday – he had to get Christened before he could officially get the new title!
  • Spending time with my sister-in-law who is in Texas for most of the month of December thanks to the recent launch of Google Fiber in Austin
  • Breaking bread at our house (and by that, I mean mimosas) with my roommate from college – truly one of my favorite people ever! She’s wonderful
  • Updating my annual Shutterfly book – I was 6 months behind, so that took quite awhile!
  • Visiting my (super tiny and pregnant) friend Julie and her sweet daughter Evie
  • Attending my niece’s Christmas performance of the 12 Days of Christmas (cutest thing ever)
  • Singing Christmas carols and enjoying an early candlelit service (tradition discussed here)
  • Witnessing Isla get very, very excited about her bedtime story (Good Night, I Love You)
  • Spending much of Saturday at my parents house and strolling Isla around the neighborhood in her Balmoral Silver Cross Pram (imported from the UK upon news of my pregnancy)
  • Finishing my very first set of wedding invitations (doing the calligraphy, not the design!)
  • Enjoying a full night’s sleep – after numerous nights in a row, I can now say that Isla is sleeping from 6pm to 5:45-6am (ouch, still early)! It took some painful CIO nights, but it worked!
  • Teaching Isla to drink from a sippy cup! So far, so good. And this week we will begin to teach Isla sign language with the Signing Time DVD (very excited about this!)

review7Processed with VSCOcam with f2 presetSanta

Favorite Looks of the Week

This week has seriously been a whirlwind, and I didn’t have much time to peruse my favorite fashion blogs until Thursday night after Isla had gone to bed. My gosh – I love fall fashion. I die over Blair Eadie’s skirt, Rachel Parcell’s red coat, and Lauren Murphy’s sequined top (all linked below).

These ten favorite looks of the week all make me want to go shopping, which is not a wise idea right now after ordering a million Christmas gifts for family and friends. I went to buy a dress for Isla’s Christening, but after trying on a million and not being satisfied (a milk-filled chest creates cleavage in everything – not a fan!), I decided to wear a dress from one of my wedding showers. It’s classy and conservative, and I’m glad to get another wear out of it.

Which of these fabulous looks is your favorite? Hope you have had a great week so far! xo

FL5

Could I Have That? | 2 Atlantic-PacificFL4 3 The Teacher Diva | 4 Brooklyn Blonde

Tinsel and Tables Workshop

Two weeks ago, I attended a Tinsel & Tables Workshop, hosted by Christina of Christina Leigh Events (first mentioned here). The event was so much fun – not to mention delicious (feast your eyes on the delicious baked goods from Buttercup Bakery). The attendees gathered at Over the Top Linen on a beautiful Sunday, and we learned napkin folds and discussed table settings, talked about cute paper goods with Katie of Katie and Co., practiced calligraphy with Jenny of A Fine Flourish and learned all about perfecting your holiday decor with Christina. She taught us how to make natural wreaths and the perfect bows. Needless to say, it was a very informative four hours. I took my wreath home and have it on our table as our centerpiece!

Over the Top Linen is the most incredible store ever (fabric heaven). I am dying to get my hands on those fancy sequin fabrics for Isla’s first birthday party. The entire event was exciting, as I had been following many of these lovely ladies on Instagram for awhile, and it was great to meet them (all incredibly sweet). I’m looking forward to Christina’s next workshop!

The entire workshop was photographed by the incredibly talented Jessica of Ever and Anon (all photos below are courtesy of Jessica). I hope to have her take photos for us in the future! Her pictures are beautiful.

PS Seeing these photos of me with the blond hair now makes me cringe. So excited to be a brunette again (photo here)!

TT1TINSEL_AND_TABLES_WORKSHOP_039TT2TINSEL_AND_TABLES_WORKSHOP_029

Gift Guide for the Athlete

After two gift guides for the men (Gadget Guy and Outdoorsman), two for the ladies (Hostess and Girly Girl) and one for the little ones (Baby’s First Christmas), I have created a unisex present guide – for the athletes. I am drooling over some of these gifts, most especially the Tory Burch Fitbit Flex bracelet. It is perfect.